Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Pettingall, John
PETTINGALL or PETTINGAL, JOHN (1708–1781), antiquary, born in 1708, was son of the Rev. Francis Pettingal of Newport, Monmouthshire. He matriculated at Jesus College, Oxford, on 15 March 1725, and graduated B.A. in 1728. He was afterwards incorporated at Cambridge, probably at Corpus Christi College, whence he graduated M.A. in 1740, and D.D. at a later date.
He was for some years preacher at Duke Street chapel, Westminster, and on 3 June 1757 was appointed prebendary of St. Paul's Cathedral. On 28 July 1758 he was installed prebendary of Lincoln. On 16 Jan. 1752 he was elected a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries (see list in Bibl. Topogr. Brit. vol. x.), and read three papers before it, viz. ‘On the Courts of Pye Powder,’ ‘On the Gule of August,’ and ‘Observations on an Altar with Greek Inscription at Corbridge, Northumberland’ (Archæologia, i. 190, ii. 60, 92). He died in the autumn of 1781.
Pettingall also published: 1. ‘A Dissertation on the Origin of the Equestrian Figure of the George and of the Garter,’ 1753 (cf. Blackwood's Magazine, xli. 744). 2. ‘The Latin Inscriptions on the Copper Table discovered in the year 1732, near Heraclea … more particularly considered and illustrated,’ 1760, 4to. 3. ‘A Dissertation upon the Tascia or Legend on the British Coins of Cunobelin, and others,’ 1763, 4to. 4. ‘An Enquiry into the Use and Practice of Juries among the Greeks and Romans, from whence the origin of the English Jury may probably be deduced,’ 1769, 4to.
He also translated A. C. F. Houtteville's ‘Discours Historique et Critique sur la Méthode des Principaux Auteurs qui ont écrit pour ou contre le Christianisme,’ with a preface and notes, 1739. Appended to it is ‘A Dissertation on the Life of Apollonius Tyaneus, with some Observations on the Platonists of the latter [sic] school.’
A son, Thomas Pettingall (1745–1826), tutor and censor of Christ Church from 1774 to 1779, was afterwards Whitehall preacher, and in 1782 became rector of East Hampstead, Berkshire. [Alumni Westmonast.; Alumni Oxon.; Grad. Cant.; Le Neve's Fasti Eccles. Angl. ii. 131, 438; Walcot's Memorials of Westminster, p. 72; Gent. Mag. 1781 p. 442, 1826 i. 379; Allibone's Dict. Engl. Lit. ii. 1573; Brit. Mus. Cat.; authorities cited.]